Domestic air travel: Mandatory two-week quarantine for home-comers in UP

LUCKNOW: As the country gears up for restarting domestic air travel from Monday, the Uttar Pradesh government has released a travel protocol meant for residents and visitors to the state. Aimed at screening patients early and gathering data needed for contact tracing in case someone tests positive later on, the protocol was issued by chief secretary RK Tewari.
“The Union ministry of civil aviation has asked state governments to make state specific rules. Accordingly, the protocol was put in place,” said principal secretary health and family welfare Amit Mohan Prasad.

As per the protocol, residents of UP coming back home will have to serve a mandatory home quarantine upon their return to their home district. But those coming to state as visitors for official/business purposes will be exempted even as they will have to follow a strict protocol. The duration of the short visit should not be more than one week.
It directed all passengers to register themselves at the link https://reg.upcovid.in. The link would be not only displayed prominently at all airports but the airport authorities would be required to apprise the passengers through a public announcement system. Passengers may call up at 18001805145 in case they face any problem in getting themselves registered on the link.
The order stated that passengers will also be required to register the number of family members he/she traveled with on a given format provided at the airport.
“The passenger would use the One Time Password (OTP) they receive on their registered mobile number while getting himself/herself registered. The passenger would also receive an SMS and a PDF file. The SMS and/or the PDF file, detailing about the passenger, will be checked by the airport authorities,” the order said.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) would allow passengers to move out of the airport only after successful registration. All this time, the passengers would be asked to maintain social distance and no contact protocol.
The homes of residents who will be home quarantined will be flagged with details like starting and closing date of the quarantine period. The persons will have to follow all rules and regulations such as social distancing ets besides being under the surveillance of the mohallah or village nigrani samiti.
“Those quarantined will be allowed to get a covid-19 test done after the sixth day. If tested negative, the quarantine period will be deemed closed,” the order said, adding, “such persons will be allowed to resume office after clearance from local administrative authorities.”
The order also said that if someone doesn’t have adequate arrangements for home quarantine, then they will be sent for institutional quarantine.
Visitors will be allowed out of the airport only after they provide details of the return journey and place of stay. They will not be allowed to venture in containment zones / hot spots. In case they were put up at someone’s place, the in-charge of the household will have to maintain a list of the persons who met the visitor and also provide the same to the health authorities.